If you like comedy, PR or the occasional inside scoop on the entertainment world, then drop by for a daily dose written by me, Kambri Crews, producer and publicist to comedians and more!   Wednesday, February 28, 2007 Overheard on Steinway "I can't exactly go pee right now because you know I have to sit down to do that," said by gangsta type guy on Steinway in Astoria about 10 minutes ago. --Kambri Link - 8:51 PM -   Richard Lewis Kills...Almost Literally Did you read my Latest Ballyhoo? If not, then you missed this gem about the Saturday late show: Legendary comedian Richard Lewis had them choking with laughter at Comix on Saturday night...literally. A young woman enjoyed the homemade mini-donuts so much she popped a whole one in her mouth and began to choke. Thanks to the quick action of a Comix security guard who administered the Heimlich maneuver, she lived to tell the tale. After she gave Richard the thumbs up, he resumed killing the audience with his trademark neurotic comedy. After I called 911 then called them off after she was deemed okay, our tech guy marveled that she was going to stay for the rest of the show. It reminded me of a time I lunched with Jack at Ben Benson's, a very popular, old school steak house here in the City. It was early so we were only one of a few tables when a big ruckus interrupted our conversation. A man was choking. His lunch mate sprung up, gave him the Heimlich, the chunk of steak went flying, he coughed once or twice before sitting down, sipped some water then...ate the rest of the steak. It was so quick and surreal but what else are you gonna do? He paid for the steak (not cheap even at lunch prices) and she paid for the donuts and the show which weren't done yet. In her case, she would have caused even more of a disruption by snaking her way through the crowd. So, yay, thanks for saving my life now could you pass the salt. Weird and the only obvious choice all at once. Okay, back to PR mode. FYI: You can save $5 to see my friend Chuck Nice headline this weekend with the promo code: NICEWEB. Tickets for the Saturday shows are almost sold out, so I'd recommend buying now or sticking with Friday. If you don't know Chuck, he's a real treat. He co-hosts "The Radio Chick" on 92.3 Free FM and is on VH1's "Best Week Ever" with my husband Christian Finnegan. In fact, they're two of the remaing four original panelists from the show. As of today, Christian is back on the road with his Comedy Central tour which heads to Texas next week. I had hoped to go but with the surrounding tour dates and a corporate gig back here in NYC it would mean me flying there and back for one night. Harumph. Guess I'll have to try having a personal life some other time. --Kambri For my Texas friends, details are now online here. Link - 12:41 AM -   Monday, February 26, 2007 Oscar Re-Cap I'm spent. Wow! Even the snow couldn't keep the crowd away as we hosted about 120 guests (we ended up with about 160 RSVPs) for a free Oscar viewing party at Comix. For something I threw together in less than a week and had NO time to focus on due to Richard Lewis' headling weekend, I'm pleased with how it went. I was freaking stressed and exhausted though and I'm sure it showed. I will definitely repeat the fun next year but will make sure not to commit myself to anything on the Saturday beforehand. --Kambri Didn't even see the Oscars. Link - 2:03 PM -   Sunday, February 25, 2007 Well I did say it was a big week ahead. Richard Lewis had sold out shows and lots of VIPs sprinkling the crowd. Richard is such a professional and dream to work with. I hope he'll be back soon. That said...I'm freaking exhausted! It is a TAXING process to get 320 people out of a showroom and into the same area where 320 people are waiting to get in. I don't know how our managers and wait staff handle the pressure so often. Oy. I'm beat. But no rest for the wicked...I have about 130 RSVPs for my annual Oscar party which is tonight at Comix. Not bad for a last minute decision! If it all goes well tonight then next year, assuming I'm still doing PR for Comix, I will be able to plan further in advance and pack the showroom and get a celebrity host. If you want to drop by tonight, please RSVP to me at my email below. --Kambri Time to make the ballots. Link - 12:31 PM -   Wednesday, February 21, 2007 Post-Katrina Stuff It's been over a year since I volunteered in New Orleans with Pasado's Safe Haven helping with the animal rescue & recovery efforts and the reunions and stories continue to come in. Here's a video from GMA of a recent reunion of a dog rescued by Pasado: http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?pmmsid=1851468 --Kambri Link - 12:15 AM -   Tuesday, February 20, 2007 Set those DVRs! Christian will be on the Morning Show with Mike & Juliet tomorrow morning on Fox talking about American Idol along with Paris Bennett. We're watching it now and he's taking diligent notes on what is really a boring episode. ZZZzzz! Richard Lewis did a great job on The View today and plugged Comix like a good boy. "Cool in Your Code" published a GREAT piece in today's Metro but I can't get their PDF file to download. Tomorrow we'll be recording a bit for Maria Milito's show and he's going to Bob Costas' show so it's a busy day starting at 6:00 AM. Oof. After my dentist appointment yesterday (more on that in a second), I sent out Oscar party invites yesterday and have gotten lots of RSVPs. Last year was fun and with food and drink specials and a swankier bar, this year looks like it will be just as good. (Knock on wood.) I started working on the ballot and realized I haven't seen too many of the nominees. Time for a movie marathon! Anyway, there will be great prizes and flat screen TVs and big movie buffs to share it with so RSVP to me if you wanna join in. So my dentist wondered if I had been flossing. He noticed in just four months a chance in the health of my gums. Ick. I basically live in an office in the kitchen of a comedy club now. If I want to floss and brush it's in our public restroom with customers coming and going. Kind of awkward. Top that with lots of poor eating habits and late nights and four months have made a mark. Ick, ick. --Kambri Time to break out my new Sonicare. Link - 11:37 PM -   Monday, February 19, 2007 FREE Oscar Party with Prizes and HALF PRICE Food & Drinks! I'm rolling out the red carpet for the Academy Awards on Sunday, February 25th and inviting you to watch it live in the main bar at Comix. Award yourself HALF PRICE wine, draft and well drinks and select menu items! There is no cover charge and no minimum purchase required. Ballots will be on sale for your chance to win some fabulous gift packages and random drawings and trivia prizes. Even if you show up late, you won't be out of the running to go home with a prize. Sunday, February 25th @ 6:30 PM Comix 353 W. 14th Street (near 9th Ave.) New York, NY NO COVER / NO MINIMUMS RSVP to me at here. --Kambri Link - 5:50 PM -   Big Week Ahead I've been emailing with Richard Lewis and his agent, publicist, etc. in anticipation of Richard's show dates at Comix. Can I just say - publicist persona aside -- I am giddy as hell?! He hasn't headlined in NYC in a coon's age and seems really excited to be gracing the Comix stage. We're thrilled as hell to have him and hope that this weekend will knock everyone's socks off. But no pressure, Richard! We've got plenty of press lined up for him, including spots on The View and shows with Keith Olberman and Bob Costas. Check out this interview with Richard and my pal Larry Getlen from the NY Post. I'll be at all four shows and will wrap up the weekend with my annual Oscar party. I'm especially charged for a big gig with Richard because Alex Borstein had to cancel her weekend here due to the JetBlue fiasco and a bad case of strep throat. She'll be back some other time and we'll re-book all the press we had scheduled so it's all good. It even meant some real R&R for me. Unlike what I considered my prior R&R of being sick with 103.4 fever, Tigger, this R&R consisted of doing my taxes (I enjoy organizing my finances, what can I say?) with our new assistant Jessica, playing Bully on Playstation, a leisurely brunch and watching "Music & Lyrics". But lest you think I'm slacking, I still updated the Latest Ballyhoo so check it out! --Kambri Aside: We were supposed to go to the "Music & Lyrics" premiere but I didn't have anything to wear and had a meltdown. Yeah. Over clothes. Time to relax, I'd say. Link - 1:55 AM -   Thursday, February 15, 2007 Thanks to my and Christian's new assistant Jessica (YAY!), here is the The Today Show clip from New Year's Day when Christian was on for a Best Week Ever segment. If you stick around to the end, Matt Lauer gives Christian a shout out for losing 80 pounds since January 1 of '06. Best Week Ever on Today Show II on Vimeo --Kambri Link - 5:48 PM -   Wednesday, February 14, 2007 Happy Valentine's Day! Last night was terrific fun with a nice crowd. Dare I say I was quite good? Yes, I dare. I was quite good. Heh. Video to come. Tonight Christian & I are joining Scott & Brian for "Little Dog Laughed" by Douglas Carter Beane which is supposed to be great. Beane is the same guy who wrote the four part live soap opera "The Cartells" produced at Comix to raise money for The Drama Dept. Tomorrow is packed with press but Alex is stuck in LA due to the snow here in NYC. Uh oh. I'm zen. It's weather so what can we do but just roll with it. --Kambri Link - 4:21 PM -   Monday, February 12, 2007 It's been a while since I've plugged it so here it is: The Latest Ballyhoo. I'm so rested now that I'm fully conscious and feeling better that I'm more energized and excited to get back into the groove of things. It is true that some personal time, R&R, fun and games -- whatever you call it -- is a good thing. And the timing is perfect considering this impending week is so jam packed I don't know how it can possibly pan out. Eh...one day at a time. One thing I'm psyched about is Comix's new furniture FINALLY arriving. This means: HAPPY HOUR! I've been promising my friends for months now and it's all true. The place looks sexy and cozy and 1/2 price well, wine and draught drinks will be yours for the asking during our happy hour. I'm awaiting final confirmation on the exact time frame, but should know by tomorrow. --Kambri I smell parties! Link - 2:06 AM -   Saturday, February 10, 2007 I've been out cold with a fever of 103.4 for two days straight. I spent much of it sweating profusely while watching a ton of Oprah and breaking into sobs every five minutes. Riveting television when you're delirious. I'm just now feeling somewhat conscious and what's the first thing I do? Go to work. Hmm...and I wonder how I got sick in the first place? --Kambri Link - 3:27 PM -   Wednesday, February 07, 2007 Christian's tour hits Northern Kentucky according to The Northerner. Meanwhile, listen to him live on The Cooper Lawrence Show tomorrow night around 8:00 PM. Then Monday night at 10:00 PM, I'll be on The Joey Reynold's Show promoting "Fresh Meat" along with its host Catie Lazarus. I'm feeling like crap today. I hope I mend soon because I can't cancel my hair appointment! I haven't gotten a haircut since starting at Comix. How crazy is that? I finally decide to make time for myself and my hair guy is booked thru March. Luckily there was a cancellation so I'm going NO MATTER WHAT! --Kambri Link - 8:12 PM -   Monday, February 05, 2007 Back on Stage In hkeeping with the theme of love and Valentine's Day, Christian and I will do a funny piece together on the next installment of Fresh Meat at Comix on February 13th at 8:00 PM. We've only ever done it twice before and each time it's been very well received. If you haven't come out to see a show yet, now's the time! I like doing it, too, since it's really easy to pull off whereas when I've read from Love, Daddy I'm a nervous wreck. Michael Musto, The Hazzards, Eric Davis as a very weird / cool "Red Bastard" and a surprise guest will be there, too. So, to re-cap: Tuesday, February 13th @ 8:00 PM Comix 353 W. 14th Street Only $5* if you buy by Feb. 11th using the code "FMWWW". After Feb. 11th, the price goes up to $10*. Tickets can be purchased at www.comixny.com or by calling 212.524.2500. *Plus two item min. in the showroom. --Kambri Link - 3:03 PM -   Thursday, February 01, 2007 "Hannibal Rising" Movie Premiere Last night's premiere of Hannibal Rising was interesting. Harvey Weinstein gave me a nice little wave beforehand. Neat. There were some bonafide freaks in the audience. They could have been extras in an insane asylum scene had there been one in this prequel to the Red Dragon / Silence of the Lambs franchise. The movie wasn't half bad. I guess because I hadn't heard much buzz about it, I expected it to be embarrassing to run into folks at the after party. But it was pretty decent. The lead is a newcomer and was definitely the weakest link. It also was about 15 or 20 minutes too long. But I like me some blood and guts with a hearty dose of revenge and psychotic behavior. The after party was at Providence around Broadway and 57th Street. I had never heard of it before and always enjoy finding new party spots. It's a really great space if you're looking to hold a private party or reception. Gong Li translated probably means "High Maintenance". She seemed a bit diva-like by having a hand clearing a path for her to walk. No joke. It was a bit much considering it was a private party with her peers and not even crowded but whatever. Christian defended her by saying it's probably some guy with a silly job who overacts to make himself seem needed. He's probably right. Christian was sporting a brand spanking new haircut and we had walked a couple of blocks in the freezing cold. As a result, his red carpet pictures aren't the best but he still looks great IMO. You can check out the other pics at WireImage.com or GettyImages.com. --Kambri Free vodka gimlets at night before early morning radio promotions = UGH. Link - 2:07 PM -