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'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' ratings surge after wild year and Trump feud

Late night comedian and host Jimmy Kimmel is constantly be saying and doing things that make national headlines, from feuding with President Donald Trump, getting temporarily suspended from the

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Sep 29 • 2:55 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
Carrot Top awake after suicide attempt, reports of turmoil emerge

Comedian Scott Christopher Thompson is conscious and recovering from an apparent suicide attempt that hospitalized the 61-year-old performer known professionally as Carrot Top. Thompson’s publicist Jami Schlicher said the funnyman

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Sep 21 • 1:47 PM EDT • Entertainment • recorderonline.com
Quad-Cities comedy scene grows with a welcoming crowd of comics

Quad-Cities comedians foster a welcoming, growing scene where newcomers thrive, audiences grow and age cannot prevent reinvention.

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Oct 4 • 7:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • qconline.com
Ford taps comedian Nate Bargatze for new ads promoting dealership service business

Ford taps comedian Nate Bargatze to front a new ad campaign encouraging customers to go back to dealership service centers as third-party repair competition grows.

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Sep 28 • 6:00 AM EDT • Business • autonews.com
Brad Williams brings comedy tour to Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne

Comedian Brad Williams brings his Tall Tales tour to Embassy Theatre on Thursday.

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Oct 8 • 11:30 PM EDT • Entertainment • journalgazette.net
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Nimesh Patel’s ‘Buy the dip’ finds humor and hope in a country in crisis

The comedian's debut Netflix special mines the pressures of being an Indian American comedian, raising a young child and caring for aging parents — while holding on to the hope that things can get better.

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Oct 8 • 2:59 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Maria Bamford on showbiz and 'Paralyzed by Hope'

The stand-up comedian's new documentary is now on Netflix.

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Oct 23 • 8:32 AM EDT • Entertainment • mashable.com
Emmy producers say John Mulaney’s bleeped joke was not rehearsed: ‘John’s gonna do John’

The comedian made a joke about oral sex, resurfacing a 2014 interview with DJ Khaled.

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Sep 15 • 2:09 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
The modal numeber of citations is zero (in political science)

I was told when I was a graduate student that the modal published research paper was cited zero times. They then when on to say that the median was one or two, while the mean depended on how good t…

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Oct 19 • 10:00 AM EDT • Science • economistwritingeveryday.com
Shane Gillis degraded women on 'SNL'. We aren't angry enough

Shane Gillis is not funny. The comedian and sitcom actor, 38, has made a career out of making lowest-common-denominator jokes that are offensive, boring and lazy.

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Oct 12 • 11:23 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
Carrot Top hospitalized in Vegas after alleged suicide attempt: report

Carrot Top has been hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt, according to a report. The comedian, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was rushed to the hospital ahead of his

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Sep 19 • 4:59 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Nimesh Patel on stand-up, Palestine and politics: ‘The way that religion’s been weaponized is ugly’

The comedian went from being discovered by Chris Rock to making Saturday Night Live history. Now his new Netflix special, Buy the Dip, tackles timely topics with optimism

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Sep 22 • 5:00 AM EDT • Politics • theguardian.com
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt

Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.

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Sep 20 • 2:54 PM EDT • Entertainment • star-telegram.com
Carrot Top Breathing on His Own as Rep Shares Major Health Update

Scott Thompson, known professionally as Carrot Top, is awake and breathing on his own while he remains hospitalized in Las Vegas. His representative said the comedian continues to receive close medica...

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Sep 21 • 9:19 AM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Billy Crystal review: Comedian's '860' turns loss into living memory

Billy Crystal's '860,' directed by Scott Ellis at Broadway's Imperial Theatre, recounts the destruction of his home in the Palisades fires in his moving new solo show that looks back at the memories accumulated over his long career.

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Oct 21 • 10:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Carrot Top rep provides promising health update after comedian’s hospitalization

Comedian Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, is ‘breathing on his own’ two days after his hospitalization in Las Vegas.

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Sep 20 • 6:16 PM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Carrot Top hospitalized after suicide attempt, TMZ reports

Comedian Carrot Top is in the hospital Friday after attempting suicide, TMZ reports. The Las Vegas-based performer, whose real name is Scott Thompson, reportedly attempted suicide in the Vegas area…

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Sep 19 • 1:09 AM EDT • Entertainment • ktla.com
Carrot Top hospitalized after alleged suicide attempt: report

Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson is recovering in a Las Vegas hospital as of Sept. 18 after reports of the comedian's alleged suicide attempt.

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Sep 19 • 11:03 AM EDT • Entertainment • usatoday.com
Comedian Ron Bennington Recalls Early Symptoms of Stage 4 Colon Cancer: ‘Sick As I’ve Ever Been’

The radio personality is hosting a new podcast on SiriusXM, “Portcast,” where he interviews fellow comedians while in the hospital for chemotherapy.

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Oct 11 • 8:00 AM EDT • Health • today.com
Connor Wood hoped samba would be his ‘breakthrough dance’ on “DWTS”: ‘Wasn’t expecting those scores’

“I thought we did a really good job,” said the comedian, who is paired with pro Rylee Arnold.

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Oct 14 • 4:24 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Carrot Top Hospitalized After Suicide Attempt: Rep Shares Health Update

Fans flooded the 61-year-old comedian — known for his bright red hair and wild props — with prayers.

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Sep 19 • 8:23 AM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Dave Chappelle to hit major cities for new tour. How to get tickets

The comedian plans to hit seven arenas across the U.S. this fall.

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Sep 17 • 5:10 AM EDT • Entertainment • usatoday.com
'Club Kid' review: Jordan Firstman reimagines 'Big Daddy' with a subversive wit

From "I Love LA" to a New York City fairytale, this queer comedian has us seated.

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Oct 9 • 5:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • mashable.com
Federal report shows wage growth well below rate of inflation

New federal data shows that median weekly earnings among full-time workers in the third quarter of 2026 rose 1.5% compared with the same period in 2025. The gain was below...

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Oct 21 • 5:27 PM EDT • Business • talkbusiness.net
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Carrot Top lawyer says comedian was extorted days before suicide attempt

Carrot Top's lawyer has filed an emergency motion to prevent his alleged extortionist and former friend, Brian Evans, from filing more documents.

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Sep 22 • 1:27 PM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
Popular comedian stops at Williams Grove race as track partners with his TV show

Shane Gillis visited Williams Grove Speedway, his hometown dirt track, which partnered with his Netflix series "Tires."

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Sep 19 • 9:38 AM EDT • Entertainment • pennlive.com
Doc Maker Rocky Mudaliar Signs With Verve (Exclusive)

His Abrupt Entertainment produced the celebrity documentary ‘Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story,' about the comedian and his family's stunning financial betrayal.

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Oct 22 • 9:35 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Things to do, Sept. 11 and beyond: FanExpo Dallas; Paella y Pasión; Do

Other events on tap include Boldly Going to Garland; Afrimma Music Fest; comedian Craig Robinson

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Sep 11 • 11:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • dallasnews.com
How to Watch Saturday Night Live Season 52, Episode 3

Comedian Shane Gillis hosts an all-new episode of SNL with musical guest Rosalía. Season 52 of Saturday Night Live continues to bring the star power of

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Oct 10 • 1:52 PM EDT • Entertainment • fubo.tv
Comedian Joey Clift writes funny, accessible book on Native history

Author and Cowlitz Indian Tribe member Joey Clift spoke with The Seattle Times about inspiration, representation and why he loves his tribe’s casino.

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Oct 2 • 1:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • yakimaherald.com
What's the 411?

Actress and comedian Janelle James, better known as Dr. Ava Coleman on the hit ABC show “Abbott Elementary” is coming Netflix! Her first special for the Network “How Romantic” starts

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Oct 23 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • phillytrib.com
Carrot Top returns to Vegas stage with dark jokes 1 month after suicide attempt

Carrot Top was met with love, cheers, and a standing ovation while returning to his Las Vegas residency one month after his sudden hospitalization.

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Oct 20 • 11:56 AM EDT • Entertainment • ew.com
Jon Stewart to host “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central through 2028

The comedian-political commentator returned to the program in 2024, after his replacement, Trevor Noah, left to focus on his stand-up career.

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Oct 19 • 5:11 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Rob Reiner almost helped Larry David with his unproduced screenplay but made this movie instead

The comedians had a decades-long friendship, which also helped Cheryl Hines lock in an Emmy-nominated role.

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Oct 20 • 8:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
AI is the butt of the joke

Business Insider spoke to several stand-up comedians about tech jokes. They say audiences have one rule: make fun of AI.

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Sep 18 • 5:44 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Maher calls Democrat politicians ‘cowards,’ referencing take on the Sept. 11 attack that got his old show canceled

Comedian Bill Maher called Democratic politicians “cowards” while doubling down on his stance that Sept. 11 hijackers were not – a position that infamously led to ABC canceling his show over two de…

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Sep 12 • 3:28 PM EDT • Politics • thehill.com
A&E: Golden vocal cords provide an award-winning career

The 1995 comic stage play “Moon over Buffalo” marked Carol Burnett’s return to Broadway after a thirty-year absence. She’s the standup comedian with sultry red hair whose television show made

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Oct 10 • 10:20 AM EDT • Entertainment • normantranscript.com
Steve Sweeney to return to Middleborough for comedy show

Comedian Steve Sweeney brings his observational humor to the Alley Theatre in Middleborough for an October show.

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Sep 28 • 4:46 AM EDT • Entertainment • enterprisenews.com
Carrot Top breaks silence 1 month after reported suicide attempt: ‘Thank you for being there for me’

The prop comedian also revealed when he will make his return to the Las Vegas Strip to continue his residency at Luxor Hotel & Casino.

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Oct 18 • 11:17 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
\'Impractical Jokers\' star dines at Ephrata cafe Wednesday afternoon

Comedian James "Murr" Murray, perhaps best known for his role in "Impractical Jokers," visited an Ephrata cafe Wednesday afternoon and took a photo with staff members.

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Sep 24 • 12:30 PM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com
Comedian Jo Koy sets April El Paso show date

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- Comedian Jo Koy planned a stop in El Paso for his world tour, the University of Texas at El Paso's Office of Special Events announced. On April 30, he will bring his "Koy Meets World" tour to the Don Haskins Center. Presale for tickets starts Wednesday at 10 a.m. with

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Sep 14 • 4:51 PM EDT • Entertainment • kvia.com
Beloved ’90s comedian and TV actor dies at 57

Reggie McFadden, the comedian known for “Def Comedy Jam” and “In Living Color,” died at age 57 after living in Tanzania for 18 years.

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Oct 11 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • lehighvalleylive.com
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt

Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.

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Sep 20 • 2:54 PM EDT • Entertainment • tri-cityherald.com
Debbie Gibson Reached Out to Carrot Top Days Before Alleged Suicide Attempt

Debbie Gibson is sending her support to friend Carrot Top after the comedian was hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.

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Sep 20 • 2:54 PM EDT • Entertainment • macon.com
Ben Gleib built a late-night show in his house — he’s not the only comedian going DIY

Ben Gleib’s DIY late-night show reflects how comedians are using YouTube and social media to build audiences and create on their own terms.

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Oct 7 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Median US income rises to highest on record even as Americans feel affordability pinch

Americans’ median household income rose 2.6% or $87,460, in 2025, the first year of President Donald Trump’s second term, according to Census Bureau data released on Tuesday.

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Sep 15 • 10:43 AM EDT • Politics • cnn.com
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Nathan Fielder became obsessed with pilots’ mental health. The U.S. Senate just took action.

Comedian and documentarian Nathan Fielder made an entire season of 'The Rehearsal' about pilots' mental health. It led to real change.

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Sep 29 • 7:07 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Carrot Top shares positive message after reported suicide attempt, plans return to stage

Comedian Carrot Top recently broke his month-long silence to share a positive message following his reported suicide attempt. The Las Vegas-based performer, whose real name is Scott Thompson, was h…

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Oct 18 • 7:33 PM EDT • Entertainment • ktla.com
Carrot Top Overdosed at His Las Vegas Home During Health Crisis

Carrot Top is suspected to have suffered a drug overdose on Friday, Sept 18, at his Las Vegas home after he attempted suicide. TMZ reported that the comedian overdosed on prescription medication befor...

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Sep 21 • 5:13 PM EDT • Health • yahoo.com
Charlie Berens coming to Green Bay; EPIC Marathon reveals concert acts

Comedian Charlie Berens is returning to the Resch Center for The Lost and Found Tour, and the timing might make it the perfect excuse to take Mom.

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Sep 22 • 12:44 PM EDT • Entertainment • greenbaypressgazette.com
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With 10 cats and a cowboy hat, Alfred Robles is building his comedy career

Los Angeles comedian Alfred Robles looks back on a breakthrough year that included opening for Gabriel Iglesias and Jo Koy at SoFi Stadium and releasing his first hourlong special, “El Cowboy.”

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Oct 22 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Mom-and-Pop Business Owners Grapple with Harsh Times

Report shows small business owners in NYS less optimistic about the economy. Taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now, they say By Aaron Gifford [caption id=attachment_11067 align=alignright width=300] Ashley Ranslow is director for New York state at The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).[/caption] Owners of mom-and-pop businesses in New York state have been less optimistic lately than their peers in other parts of the country, a recent report indicates. The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), based on a survey of 11,000 of its members in the Empire State, reported that taxes, inflation, labor costs and competition from larger businesses are major concerns right now. “Indeed, while taxes are a major problem in New York and the United States overall, New York small businesses notably are struggling more with the state’s onerous, multi-level tax burden,” Ashley Ranslow, NFIB’s director for New York state, said in the July report. Compared with surveys of business owners in other states, far fewer New York respondents rated their businesses as in excellent or good health. The report also said labor costs here are about 25% higher than the national average and are the “single most important problem” facing businesses. One respondent to the New York-specific survey complained that too much red tape, taxes and laws that restrict high-yielding companies have stifled their operation’s growth. Others said high disability and workers’ compensation insurance costs, alarming increases in utility rates and excessive building regulations are discouraging. Statewide, New York has a gross domestic product of $2.53 trillion (third in the nation, followed by Texas, $2.90 trillion; and California, $4.25 trillion), a per capita income of $90,500 (sixth) and an unemployment rate of 4.6% (34th). There are 2.4 million small businesses that employ 3.9 million people. [caption id=attachment_11112 align=alignright width=451] Member of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce gather at one of the several functions the chamber organizes monthly. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed,” says Megan Wilmot, the chamber director[/caption] “New York state boasts one of the largest, wealthiest and most diverse cities in the world — and that’s still only about half the state’s population,” the report said. “In other words, the state is both its iconic city and so much more — geographically, demographically, economically. But New York is not without its challenges, challenges that include notably high taxes and other weaknesses that impact the small business environment,” it said. The report includes an optimism index that compares responses from New York (NFIB) members with those of their peers in other states across several categories. This ranges from plans to increase employment to expectations for higher sales, to plans to increase inventory or expand. The scores for Empire State business owners were lower in most categories, but they did score higher than the national average in noting that they have current employment openings, and that they are hopeful that the economy will improve. “The metrics so far paint a picture of a state with a series of challenges for small businesses, from a slightly below national average Optimism Index to a more seriously below national business health to very substantially below national Employment Index. What is going on with businesses that are creating these differences?” the report stated. In Central New York, the regional labor force comprises nearly 398,000 workers. The median household income here is $71,463, and the gross domestic product for the region last year totaled $61.3 billion, according to the CenterState CEO economic development and research organization. About half of the region’s labor force works for small and mid-sized businesses, although the number of people employed in that sector has decreased by 7% since 2010, according to CenterState’s 2026 economic forecast report. “While record-high employment in large-scale enterprises provides a strong foundation for Central New York,” the report says, “the long-term health of communities depends on a thriving small business sector to serve as a stabilizer.” Area employers identify several barriers to Central New York’s anticipated growth, including lack of specialized or skilled workers, government regulations, unaffordable housing options and long-term construction disruptions. In the city of Syracuse, the number of jobs in retail trade decreased by 1,500 or 4.7% between July 2025 and this past July. By contrast, the number of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector increased by 2.5% or 700 jobs, in the same annual period, according to the New York State Department of Labor. Still, there’s plenty of interest for new businesses across Central New York. U.S. Census figures show that the number of applications for new businesses in all four counties increased significantly in the past 20 years. In Cayuga County, there were 324 applications in 2005 compared to 470 last year. In Madison County, the number increased from 385 to 480; Onondaga County, from 2411 to 4132; and Oswego County, from 553 to 836. Downtown Cazenovia is exemplary of Madison County’s trend: In the past year, the village welcomed a bait shop, a thrift store, a vitamin infusion center, a pizzeria, a Pilates studio and an Italian restaurant. A candy store is scheduled to open on the main drag in the months ahead. Oswego’s list of interesting new businesses in the past year includes a bubble tea shop, a hot dog eatery in Fulton, a specialty grocery store that features New York state products in Mexico, a beauty and esthetics studio in Hannibal and a hardware and farm supply store in Sandy Creek. In Onondaga County, the Liverpool area has also enjoyed a steady stream of new shops and eateries in recent years. That suburban community is unique in that, unlike neighboring communities, most of the restaurants are family-owned and not part of a national chain. [caption id=attachment_11116 align=alignright width=300] Megan Wilmot is the executive director of the Greater Liverpool’s Chamber of Commerce.[/caption] Megan Wilmot, executive director of the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, said independent business owners in her community maintain a strong sense of pride in holding their own against national companies. The chamber helps boost morale with red carpet events, ribbon cuttings, coffee hours and five-year anniversary celebrations for participating businesses. “We have built such a strong community,” Wilmot said. “Everyone in this business community encourages each other to shop local. Everyone just wants to see each other succeed.” In Syracuse, the downtown retail occupancy rate last year was about 82%, a slight improvement from 2024, according to the Downtown Syracuse Committee’s most recent annual report. Buildings with the largest amount of vacant space included The Galleries, One Park Place, and Equitable Towers, though not all of those spaces are designated for retail use. New businesses that opened in downtown Syracuse last year: Better with Time Clothing, Dakshin Curry & Biriyani, Havana Tattoo Society, Milano Bean Café, Miss Daisy, Pausa Coffee, Sweets for Babe, The Society CNY and Yafah Beauty Studio. The Destiny USA mall’s occupancy rate decreased from 80% in 2023 to 72% by the end of 2024, according to Integra Realty Resources. That leaves more than a quarter of the mall’s retail space vacant. “Looking ahead, the retail market is expected to see minimal rent growth, with vacancy rates likely remaining stable in community and neighborhood centers but continuing to rise in enclosed malls,” Integra’s report said. “New construction activity is low and redevelopment plans for former malls like Shoppingtown and Great Northern are still in the planning stages. The proposed Micron chip plant may spur development, but challenges remain in finding co-developers for large-scale projects.” Nationally, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce expects that small businesses will remain resilient and see their sales and revenues eventually improve. That organization, in a recent national survey, found that 25% of small business owners expect the economy to improve in 2027, while 45% indicated that they plan to increase employment in the next 12 months. And 69% said they believe their small business is in good shape and 70% said they are comfortable with their current cash flow. Thirty-one percent of small businesses reported raising their prices in July and 28% are planning to raise their prices within the next three to four months, the report said. Twelve percent indicated that this is a good time to expand their business. “Small business owners voice optimism for future revenues and hiring,” the report said. “High costs continue to be a wet blanket on reinvestment.” The NFIB reported in July that Main Street, despite gas price hikes, “is OK … for now.” Its small business economics trend report said sales across the country have been strong compared to last year, but continued inflation and higher prices from mom-and-pop establishments are causing some “cracks” to show. “If costs stay this high for much longer, reduced investment will have a tangible economic impact,” the report said. “The status quo is OK, but the outlook? The outlook is uncertain.”

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Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com
Michael V. finds unexpected career highlight in ‘Family Feud’ hosting role

Photo from Instagram/@michaelbitoy Veteran Filipino comedian fulfills a longstanding ambition while temporarily taking over for Dingdong Dantes MANILA — After years of working in television comedy, Michael V. has returned to game show hosting through an assignment he says he had long hoped to receive. The veteran Filipino comedian, popularly known as Bitoy, described his temporary stint presenting GMA Network’s Family…

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Oct 10 • 3:21 AM EDT • Entertainment • asianjournal.com
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Carrot Top speaks out for the first time following suicide attempt

Comedian Carrot Top is breaking his silence, nearly a month after he was hospitalized following a suicide attempt.

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Oct 18 • 4:51 PM EDT • Entertainment • nbcconnecticut.com
Reggie McFadden death: Comedian and actor dies at 57

'In Living Color' actor and comedian Reggie McFadden has died at the age of 57. His family received word from the State Department of his death in Tanzania.

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Oct 5 • 5:13 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
How 800 Pound Gorilla became the biggest indie animal in comedy

800 Pound Gorilla marks 10 years of backing comedians including Jim Jefferies, Bill Burr, Nikki Glaser, Leanne Morgan, Patton Oswalt and Chad Daniels.

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Oct 20 • 2:09 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Max Amini says comedy can bridge divide between Iran and America

The L.A.-based Iranian American comedian, who is touted as being the world's most watched comedian on the internet, comes home to the Dolby Theatre for six shows starting this weekend.

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Oct 1 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Ardmore Day Celebrates 75 Years of the Ardmore Business Association

On Saturday, October 17, the ABA will celebrate that milestone with Ardmore Day, bringing businesses, families and visitors together for a day of fun throughout the community.

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Sep 12 • 6:56 AM EDT • Business • mainlinemedianews.com
Taylor Tomlinson turns off the mic to tell all in 'Actually, Nevermind'

Comedian Taylor Tomlinson turns a forced pause from nonstop touring and late-night TV into "Actually, Nevermind," an essay collection about grief, reinvention and changing your mind in adulthood.

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Sep 22 • 2:50 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Jamie Foxx opens up 3 years after health scare, talks new standup special

Actor, comedian and singer Jamie Foxx opens up to ABC News three years after a health scare nearly ended his life.

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Oct 5 • 11:26 AM EDT • Health • abcnews.com
Carrot Top released from hospital following reported suicide attempt

The comedian is with family and reportedly “doing well” following the Sept. 18 incident in Las Vegas.

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Sep 27 • 7:56 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
A conversation with comedian Ali Siddiq

The standup comedian will perform at Clowes Memorial Hall on Saturday, Oct. 24.

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Oct 17 • 9:21 PM EDT • Entertainment • nuvo.net
Carrot Top's Rep Gives Update on Comedian After Alleged Suicide Attempt

A representative for Scott "Carrot Top" Thompson is reportedly giving an update on the comedian's condition as he remains hospitalized following an alleged suicide attempt.

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Sep 20 • 9:36 PM EDT • Entertainment • heraldsun.com
Connor Wood thinks ‘it’s an act of God’ that he and Rylee Arnold were paired together on “DWTS”

The comedian tells “Entertainment Weekly” that they’ve managed to avoid any crash outs thus far.

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Sep 30 • 11:47 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Bob the Drag Queen is a comedian first. Here’s why

The winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Broadway actor, Madonna tour emcee and author returns to Iowa with stand-up comedy — the thing that started it all.

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Sep 22 • 7:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • thegazette.com
Comedian Rips Into Ed Sheeran: 'Red-Headed Puppet With A Hand Up His Ass'

The “Chicken Shop Date” host didn’t hold back during her “SNL UK” monologue.

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Sep 27 • 10:27 AM EDT • Entertainment • huffpost.com
Joe Rogan Says Money Is So Deeply Entangled In Politics That Removing It Entirely 'Seems Ridiculous To People'

Money has become such an accepted part of U.S. politics that the idea of removing it altogether sounds almost absurd, according to comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan. He argues that if the political sys...

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Oct 6 • 8:00 AM EDT • Politics • yahoo.com
HOMETOWN ENTERTAINMENT: Comedian Brad Williams bringing his “Tall Tales Tour” to Roanoke

Brad Williams brings Tall Tales Tour to Roanoke this month.

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Oct 16 • 9:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • wdbj7.com
Why Stand-Up Comedians Are Uniting Against SiriusXM & Sebastian Maniscalco

"It's going to devastate."

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Oct 13 • 9:44 AM EDT • Entertainment • mashable.com
Russell Brand arrives at a London court for his trial on rape and sexual assault charges

Comedian Russell Brand has arrived at a London court for the opening of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault | WBBM Newsradio 780 AM & 105.9 FM

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Oct 12 • 4:36 AM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com
Comedian Ms. Pat shares her story of life in show business

Watch the full interview here.

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Sep 29 • 12:45 PM EDT • Business • ny1.com
Woman tells UK court that comedian Russell Brand raped her

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - A woman told police that British actor and comedian Russell Brand had grabbed her breasts before dragging her into a toilet at a bar and

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Oct 19 • 9:16 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
Comedians show support for Carrot Top after hospitalization

Fellow comedians are showing support for Carrot Top on social media after the comic was reportedly hospitalized following a suicide attempt Friday. Carrot Top, whose real name is Scott Thompson, wa…

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Sep 19 • 8:08 PM EDT • Entertainment • ktla.com
Quad-Cities comedy scene grows with a welcoming crowd of comics

Quad-Cities comedians foster a welcoming, growing scene where newcomers thrive, audiences grow and age cannot prevent reinvention.

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Oct 4 • 7:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • qctimes.com
Man’s Clever Trick After Realizing His Job Interviewer Was AI Sparks Fears For Humanity’s Future

As more and more companies replace their interviewers with AI, a frustrated comedian went viral by bringing his own “AI representative” to the meeting. Curiosities, Funny, Science & Technology, Social Issues, Society

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Oct 16 • 6:39 PM EDT • Technology • boredpanda.com
Netflix’s Summer of Bummer

(Welcome to the Entertainment Strategy Guy, a newsletter on the entertainment industry and business strategy. I write a weekly Streaming Ratings Report and a bi-weekly strategy column, along with occasional deep dives into other topics, like today’s article. Please subscribe.) Today, I’ve got a guest post from longtime friend of the newsletter, Brandon Katz. I’ve been trying to find time all summer to look at Netflix’s straight-to-streaming film slate, but between a pre-planned trip and Nielsen moving up their streaming data timeline, I’ve been swamped. So I reached out to Brandon, one of my favorite fellow analysts, to write about it. And I feel like he captured the tone and data focus of the newsletter perfectly. You can connect with Brandon on LinkedIn and Twitter. Enjoy! Don’t worry, folks. You’re in safe hands with me. To ease any anxieties about an interloper in ESG’s domain, I’ll start by stealing one of his best framing devices: headlines. Box office flops are covered in the same way the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles eye pizza: with cartoonish insatiability. I would know. I’m a former reporter who wrote nearly identical headlines: Yet, intentionally or not, streaming misses get treated with kids gloves, filtered through a rosy lens: In the last six years, U.S. streaming viewership has become nearly as transparent as the box office, but the data often arrives weeks later, in a number of less intuitive metrics, and with nary an official budget to be found. This plays into the Wall Street-whispering narratives major streamers have been cultivating for years. They get a pass in a way that theatrical studios simply don’t. Subscribe Netflix’s Summer Slate Not a single Netflix original film released between May and August this year opened above 20 million U.S. TV hours, per Nielsen. That benchmark usually serves as the EntStrategyGuy’s floor for a streaming hit on Netflix. None of these films enjoyed a hit-cementing single week of 20-plus million hours during their runs. Netflix’s two best films were true crime docs, Maternal Instinct (16.5 million hours) and The Crash (19.7 million), the best overall week for a film this summer. Great for most other streamers, but not necessarily what we’re used to seeing from Netflix. For an overly-dramatic comparison, Happy Gilmore 2 opened last summer to around 47 million hours (celebrity cameos, baby!). Zooming out, the picture looks even worse. In 2026, Netflix’s five biggest scripted summer films posted the lowest average (28.6 million hours) and median (28.8 million hours) eight-week viewership totals of the past four years. Now, it’s unrealistic and unfair to expect Netflix to deliver a _KPop Demon Hunters-_sized hit every year. But it’s also not ideal to see the size of their hits shrinking over the last few summers. Let’s quickly run through some of the notable summer misses. Jennifer Lopez and Brett Goldstein’s perfectly fine romcom, Office Romance, fell off the charts after 20 million hours in its first two weeks. Top films usually last for four-plus weeks. Starry titles ideally don’t decay that fast either. Homegrown star Millie Bobby Brown couldn’t prevent the snappy Enola Holmes franchise from diminishing returns. At 14.3 million U.S. hours, the third film posted roughly half of what the first two films did in their first two weeks. What’s on Netflix calculated that per-day global views were down nearly 60% from the second movie. The Whisper Man did okay with more than 36 million hours over its first four weeks. But I expected a little more juice from a film featuring Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott. Kevin Hart’s Ladies First collected just 11.2 million hours total across two weeks. That’s a big miss for one of Netflix’s go-to stars. Plopping into the same bucket are Sunny Sandler’s Don’t Say Good Luck (10.3 million in two weeks) and John Cena’s Little Brother (17.5 million). Meanwhile, English-language originals Color Book (June 19), In the Hand of Dante (June 24) and Heartstopper Forever (July 17) never sniffed Nielsen’s Top 10 at all, despite needing only 2 to 5 million hours to land in the top ten most weeks. (By my count, eleven English-language scripted original films released between May and August did chart). It’s only fair to mention that Swapped (1-May) posted nearly 42 million U.S. hours over five weeks (the longest Netflix original run this summer) and is currently their eighth most-watched English-language film ever worldwide. Remarkably Bright Creatures (37 million, 4 weeks) and Voicemails for Isabelle (27 million, 4 weeks) weren’t bombs either. Still, overall, I think it’s fair to say this was a quieter summer season than we’re used to seeing from the market-leader. You might not realize that given the language commonly used in public analysis. The Twist Despite the starkly black-and-white tone of the coverage, here’s the twist: when many box office bombs arrive on streaming, their viewership looks a whole lot like many of Netflix’s supposedly successful summer releases. Hmm, where have we heard that one before? Masters of the Universe topped out at $65 million stateside against a $170 million budget_._ I’ll admit, Skeletor ripping sleeveless curls as a gym bro and bodyslamming Adam’s co-workers was funny. But, much to the chagrin of my bank account, my laughter doesn’t launch franchises. Yet the He-Man reboot opened to 19.6 million hours (from a Wednesday five-day opening instead of just one weekend), on par with Hoppers on Disney+ (19.4 million). It put up nearly 47 million hours over its first six weeks, bigger than all of Netflix’s summer releases. Pretty darn healthy and likely to land among the 25 most-watched movies on streaming this year. Sticking with Amazon, The Sheep Detectives just barely broke even at the box office with $133 million worldwide (and only $66 million domestic). I never expected cloven-hooved, cud-chewing mammals to be able to bring me to tears. Yet that’s exactly how I found myself at the end of this surprisingly affecting movie (#NoShame). It was likely the unexpected quality in a family-friendly film that powered its streaming over-performance. Sheep Detectives delivered a solid run for Prime video netting 26.2 million hours! How about franchise IP? Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu had the lowest opening ($81 million) and lowest-grossing Disney-era live-action Star Wars film ($178 million domestic). One day before release, its Heat score (19.8%)—audiences who list their interest as a 7/7—fell behind blockbusters Wicked (21%), Superman (23%), Fantastic Four: First Steps (23%), Michael (23%), Toy Story 5 (26%) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (27%), according to Greenlight Analytics. The urgent enthusiasm just wasn’t there. On streaming, Mando opened to weeks of 12.1 million, 6.1 million and 2.7 million hours (21 million total) over its first three frames. Not the numbers Lucasfilm was hoping for nor the numbers of a streaming hit. But they’re in the same vicinity as some Netflix summer releases with $345 million at the global box office to offset a smidgen of the pain. Final Thoughts So why oh why does this nuance gap exist? Four key reasons: Data Literacy: A “$100 million opening” just makes sense. After decades of box office reporting, even casual movie fans are well-versed in the benchmarks of hits and home runs. There’s an immediate shorthand. But “16.5 million” hours doesn’t land nearly as cleanly. Despite leaps of progress, the streaming ratings era is still in its infancy compared to theatrical. The EntStrategyGuy and I met thanks to a late 2010s group chat of data nerds hungry to find a shred of certainty in nebulous streaming performance. I’m not surprised to see “No. 1 on Netflix” still getting misconstrued out in the wild. Timing: By Friday morning, we have the box office’s Thursday night previews totaled, allowing us to better project the weekend’s expectations. From there, ticket sales are reported daily. By Sunday, the film’s fate is usually finalized, at least in terms of public perception. In streaming, Nielsen recently improved its delay to…two weeks. The medium isn’t forced to contend with instant gratification as harshly. Financials: Theatrical film budgets are a mere Google away. Profit and loss is calculated in the cold and unforgiving naked light of day for all to see. But finding the vast majority of streaming exclusive movie budgets requires the forensic investigation skills of a Criminal Minds detective. Also, it’s very difficult to calculate how much revenue/value a straight-to-streaming films provides a streamer. This is why there are so few stories about streaming original movies “losing X amount of money”. On top of that, marketing budgets are far greater for theatrical movies than streaming exclusive movies, which leads to earlier and better awareness. This then translates to a wider pool of potential interest. Narrative Control: Netflix is the only major streaming service to publish weekly first-hand viewership data and annual engagement reports. Naturally, some headlines borrow their first-hand framing**.** Other streamers benefit from their comparative lack of transparency. They may occasionally announce vague performance platitudes such as Apple TV’s Mayday becoming its “biggest film debut on the platform to date over its first 18 days,” and that it ranked No. 1 with left-handed viewers in its first weekend. (Fine, I made up that second one). But, for the most part, they keep first-hand viewership shrouded in mystery to avoid bad press. Especially for outlets that demand multiple articles per day from their writers, it’s an easy (and understandable) way for some reporters to hit their daily article quota by just repeating what the streamers have told them. TL:DR version: Streaming-exclusive movies are asked to do different things than theatrical movies, but that doesn’t mean they should escape judgment. Both still need to draw enough eyeballs to justify their cost within the proper performance contexts. The more cleanly we can inject a little nuance into streaming analysis, the better we’ll understand the audience and content trends that drive this industry. And that’s what all of this is really about: knowing what audiences actually want! Brandon Katz is the Director of Insights & Content Strategy at Greenlight Analytics where he focuses on evaluating the ever-fluid media landscape to unearth understanding, opportunity and value. Greenlight Analytics is the entertainment intelligence consulting company redefining how Hollywood finds, understands, and activates audiences. Prior to joining Greenlight Analytics, he served as the senior entertainment industry strategist at Parrot Analytics, and as a full-time entertainment industry reporter covering the Xs and Os of Hollywood, most notably with TheWrap and the Observer.

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Oct 9 • 3:32 PM EDT • Entertainment • entertainment.substack.com
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Russell Brand arrives at a London court for his trial on rape and sexual assault charges

Comedian Russell Brand has arrived at a London court for the opening of his trial on charges of rape and sexual assault | WWJ Newsradio 950

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Oct 12 • 4:36 AM EDT • Entertainment • audacy.com
Gambit's Best of New Orleans 2026: Entertainment

Design by Dora Sison / Gambit Best Bounce Artist googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1492300'); }); 1. Big Freedia (Instagram: @bigfreedia)2. Ha Sizzle (Instagram: @hasizzlethevoice)3. Subtweet Shawn (Instagram: @subtweetshawn1) Trixie Minx Photo by Sophia Germer / The Times-Picayune Best Burlesque Performer1. Trixie Minx (Instagram: @trixienola)2. Bella Blue (Instagram: @bellablueforever)3. Miss Angie Z (Instagram: @missangiez) Best Casino1. Caesars New Orleans (8 Canal St., 800-427-7247; caesars.com/caesars-new-orleans)2. Treasure Chest Casino (4550 Williams Blvd., Kenner, 504-443-8000; treasurechest.com)3. Boomtown Casino (4132 Peters Road., Harvey, 504-366-7711; boomtownneworleans.com) Best Drag Performer1. Debbie with a D (Instagram: @debbiewithad)2. Katrina Waters (Instagram: @katrinawaters504)3. Laveau Contraire (Instagram: @laveaucontraire) Best Festival (that's still around)1. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (nojazzfest.com)2. French Quarter Festival (frenchquarterfest.org)3. Hogs For The Cause (hogsfest.org) Best Food Festival1. New Orleans Fried Chicken Festival (friedchickenfestival.com)2. Oak Street Po-Boy Festival (poboyfest.com)3. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (nojazzfest.com) Tipitina's Photo by Sophia Germer / The Times-Picayune Best Live Music Venue1. Tipitina’s (501 Napoleon Ave., 504-895-8477; tipitinas.com)2. The Broadside (600 N Broad St., 504-766-0871; broadsidenola.com)3. The Fillmore (6 Canal St., 504-881-1555; thefillmorenola.com) Best Live Music Club1. Maple Leaf Bar (8316 Oak St., 504-866-9359; mapleleafbar.com)2. Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro (626 Frenchmen St., 504-949-0696; snugjazz.com)3. Chickie Wah Wah (2828 Canal St., 504-541-2050; chickiewahwah.com)3. Blue Nile (532 Frenchmen St., 504-766-6193; bluenilelive.com) Best Local Blues Artist/Band1. Little Freddie King (littlefreddieking.com)2. Samantha Fish (samanthafish.com)3. Tab Benoit (tabbenoit.com) Best Local Brass Band1. Rebirth Brass Band (rebirthbrassband.com)2. Hot 8 Brass Band (hot8brassband.com)3. The Soul Rebels (thesoulrebels.com) Best Local DJ1. Paul Lakeway (Instagram: @paul_lakeway)2. DJ Soul Sister (Instagram: @djsoulsister)3. ANTWIGADEE! (Instagram: @antwigadee) Best Local Funk Band1. Dumpstaphunk (dumpstaphunk.com)2. Galactic (galacticfunk.com)3. Big Sam's Funky Nation (bigsamsfunkynation.com) Kaye the Beast Provided Photo by Catherine Debuys Best Local Hip-Hop Group/Artist1. Kaye the Beast (Instagram: @kayethebeast)2. La Reezy (Instagram: @lareezymusic)3. Pell (Instagram: @pellyeah) Best Local Movie Theater1. The Broad Theater (636 N. Broad St., 504-218-1008; thebroadtheater.com)2. The Prytania (5339 Prytania St., 504-891-2787; theprytania.com) googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('ad-1492297'); }); 3. The Prytania Theatre at Canal Place (333 Canal St., 3rd floor, 504-290-2658; theprytania.com) Best Local Music Artist/Band1. Robin Barnes & The Fiya Birds (robinbarnesmusic.com)2. Trombone Shorty (tromboneshorty.com)3. Sweet Crude (sweetcrudeband.com) Best Local Rock Band1. The Revivalists (therevivalists.com)2. Better Than Ezra (betterthanezra.com)3. Cowboy Mouth (cowboymouth.com) Best Wedding Band/ DJ1. The Mixed Nuts (themixednuts.com)2. Bucktown All-Stars (bucktownallstars.com)3. Warm Advice (warmadvice.com) Doreen Ketchens Provided photo Best Local Street Performer1. Doreen Ketchens (doreensjazz.org)2. Jourdan Blue (Instagram: @jourblue)3. Sariyah Idan (ariyahidan.com) Best Local Theater Company1. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans (504-264-2580; twtheatrenola.com)2. Le Petit Theatre (616 St. Peter St., 504-522-2081; lepetittheatre.com)3. The NOLA Project (504-302-9117; nolaproject.com) Best Local Traditional Jazz Group/Artist1. Preservation Hall Jazz Band (preservationhalljazzband.com)2. Kermit Ruffins (@ruffinsbbq)3. Trombone Shorty (tromboneshorty.com) Best Marching Band1. St. Augustine High School Marching 100 (Instagram: @staugmarching100)2. Edna Karr High School Marching Band (Instagram: @theofficialkarrband)3. The Roots of Music Marching Crusaders (therootsofmusic.org) Best Mardi Gras Parade1. Muses (kreweofmuses.org)2. Iris (kreweofiris.org)3. Endymion (endymion.org) 610 Stompers Photo by Chris Granger / The Times-Picayune Best Mardi Gras Dance Krewe1. 610 Stompers (610stompers.com)2. Amelia EarHawts (aecabinkrewe.com)3. The Jamettes (Instagram: @thejametteskrewe) Best Place to See Burlesque/Drag1. The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret (2240 St. Claude Ave., 504-218-5778; theallwayslounge.net)2. The Original Nite Cap (1300 St. Bernard Ave., 2nd floor, 504-224-2854; Instagram: @originalnitecap)3. The Country Club (634 Louisa St., 504-945-0742; thecountryclubneworleans.com) Best Place to See Comedy1. Sports Drink (1042 Toledano St.; sportsdrink.org)2. The Howlin' Wolf (907 S. Peters St., 504-529-5844; thehowlinwolf.com)3. Big Couch New Orleans (1045 Desire St.; bigcouchnola.com) Best Local Comedian1. Ryan Rogers (ryanrogerscomedy.com)2. Mark Normand (marknormandcomedy.com)3. Cyrus Cooper (Instagram: @cyrusjcooper) Best Strip Club1. The Penthouse Club (727 Iberville St., 504-524-4354; penthouseclubneworleans.com)2. Rick’s Cabaret (315 Bourbon St., 504-524-4222; rickscabaretneworleans.com)3. Larry Flynt's Hustler Club (225 Bourbon St., 504-524-0010; neworleanshustlerclub.com) Best Performing Arts Center1. Jefferson Performing Arts Center (6400 Airline Dr., 504-731-4700; jeffersonpac.com)2. Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal St., 504-525-1052; saengertheatreneworleans.com)3. Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts (1419 Basin St., 504-525-1052; mahaliajacksontheater.com) .donate-gambit-article-module-container { text-align: center; padding: 10px; /* background-color: #24da6d; */ background-color: rgb(153, 0, 0); margin-bottom: 20px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-title { font-weight: bold; color: #fff; } .donate-gambit-article-module-copy { color: #fff !important; font-size: 16px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-button { background-color: black; width: 50%; border-color: black; font-size: 16px; } .donate-gambit-article-module-button:hover { background-color: black; } @media only screen and (max-width: 600px) { .donate-gambit-article-module-button { font-size: 14px; width: 100%; } .donate-gambit-article-module-copy { font-size: 14px; } } BECOME A GAMBIT MEMBER AND JOIN OUR KREWE TODAY For more than 40 years, Gambit has covered New Orleans, for New Orleans. We’ve stood up to city hall with you, cheered the Saints with you, danced in the streets with you and cried over our collective loss with you. And we’re plannin’ on being here for 40 more. To do that, we need your help. Become a Gambit member today and help us continue our mission SUPPORT GAMBIT

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Sep 29 • 5:00 PM EDT • Entertainment • nola.com
SPECIAL REPORT: Tough Business

A string of vacant restaurant buildings shows that many restaurants in the region are struggling — and several are closing By Stefan Yablonski [caption id=attachment_11132 align=alignright width=401] Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008.[/caption] By their nature, most restaurants have a limited life. An astonishing 60% go out of business within three years of opening, largely due to fundamental flaws in the planning of the operation. But even restaurants that experience years of success almost always face eventual closure. The restaurant business is very hard and because of both personal factors and external factors beyond anyone’s control, restaurants don’t last forever. For many restaurants, age is a big factor, according to Kenneth Walsleben, professor of practice, entrepreneurship and emerging enterprises at Syracuse University. “The owners have been at it for 20 or 25 years, if not longer, they want some time to themselves,” he said. Such was the case for Jocko’s Famous Ritz Diner in Oswego. Jocko Reitz bought the building in the late 1970s from Robert Shapiro. However, when he stepped away from the business, it eventually closed. [caption id=attachment_11142 align=alignright width=402] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s Restaurant passed through three generations of family in Oswego. It closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025.[/caption] For nearly 80 years, Vona’s passed through three generations of family in Oswego. Vona’s Restaurant officially closed its doors on Dec. 31, 2025, when no family member wanted to take over. It is on the market. The Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026. The restaurant faced multiple temporary health department closures in 2024 and 2025 due to persistent fruit fly and foundation pest issues. Management posted a final closure notice on the doors in mid-April 2026 and the building was put up for sale. The same pattern has been happening in Onondaga County. The big building once used by Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill on Route 31 in Clay remains empty, more than six months after the restaurant closed its doors in April. It had been in operation since at least 2008. [caption id=attachment_11130 align=alignright width=401] Ruby Tuesday in Oswego operated for about two decades before permanently closing in April 2026.[/caption] Just down the road from Smokey Bones, the popular Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty. Other very popular restaurants in the northern suburbs of Syracuse have recently closed. Among them, Fireside by the River in Baldwinsville and Primo Nestico’s Bistro Bar in North Syracuse. “I haven’t really paid attention to the Syracuse area. There has always been some turnover, but there probably has never been a tougher time to be a restauranter than now. It’s just brutal,” Walsleben said. In the first year, roughly 20% to 25% of restaurants close or change hands, according to the National Restaurant Association. [caption id=attachment_11122 align=alignright width=401] Outback Steakhouse closed in August 2024. Another restaurant took its place, La Cocina Mexican Restaurant, but it closed shortly after. The building sits empty.[/caption] “Depending on what statistics you look at, you’ll find that any business has a high mortality rate in the first year. That is just the nature of entrepreneurship,” Walsleben said. “There are certain ones that are getting hit hard while others are more fruitful. “And when you look at the restaurant industry you have to factor in labor which is a large part — typically a third of your expenses — and those costs are going up. And there is always turnover which means investing money to train people. Then you’ve got food costs, which is also a third of the typical restaurant budget. Since the pandemic labor has gone up 41%, food costs have gone up 35%. That’s a big tight squeeze righty there. That’s two-thirds of your budget that has gone up 35% to 40% in the last few years. And then the only way you can make that work is to raise the prices.” The National Restaurant Association reports menu prices are up 36% since February of 2020. In a survey released by the association, more than eight in 10 restaurant owners reported that their food, beverage and labor costs are now higher than before the pandemic. You have to deal with the reality of are the customers willing to pay for that? Walsleben added. Restaurants historically have very thin margins; their profit margin is about 5%. “You have a third that goes into food, a third that goes into labor and about 28%, 29% that goes into everything else — overhead, insurance etc. So that brings you down to your 5% leftover,” he said. “Everything is going up. Customer expectations are going up and people aren’t going to spend that much more. So, you have a tight squeeze here,” Walsleben continued. “Restaurants who use delivery apps, they pay a fee to those guys. Those guys don’t work for free. So, you can kind of see where the squeeze comes from.” Stuck in the middle There are pockets of opportunity; the two extremes of the market can make a profit. But the middle gets squeezed out. “If you are a low-end fast-food kind of place, there is room for that. People have changed their budgets. They are still going out, but they are not spending more,” according to Walsleben. “The high end remains positive. If you have a restaurant that brings a specific experience … a great food product or you are catering to high end customers who aren’t so budget conscious, those patrons are going to expect a high-end experience. They expect excellent food every time. They are expecting excellent service. If you can meet those expectations there is room for you at the top. It’s just the guys in the middle are getting the squeeze from both ends. Tough competition, customer expectations, costs are up. Menu items, you can’t raise the prices as much as you need to. That is why you are seeing a lot of restaurants baling out.” The ones that can adapt quickly are the ones who are doing OK. “Success is heavily dependent on the strength of a restaurant’s concept development and the planning of its execution. Eventually things aren’t always new. Things change. So, if you are in the restaurant business you have got to change your menu — keep things new, fresh and update your meals. It is very fickle industry. One year carbs are out, the next year berries are out. Everybody’s diet changes — constantly chasing the latest phase. You have got to adjust your menu and move with those modifications. If you have a static menu that you have used the last couple years that hasn’t changed except for the pricing, you’ve got a problem,” he said. A lot of times these buildings are singular purpose, he added. “You have a commercially viable kitchen and you got a seating area. There is not a lot of other businesses that cater to that type of a layout. So, it’s pretty common to see another restaurant slide in,” he said. One of the things a banker learns early on is you don’t lend money to restaurants … because they fail so quickly. It is very hard to predict who the winners will be. So, if you are a restaurant in addition to all the other challenges, it is very difficult to get loans, according to Walsleben. “You might work really well in the kitchen. But that doesn’t mean you are a great businessperson,” he said. “Restaurants can fail because the owner didn’t know how to manage things properly. There are a lot of challenges. “There is opportunity at the high end and the low end. But in the middle, that’s the death valley. There are just so many things working against you. You really need to have something that will pull people in and continue to pull people in because you to constantly have to change. Think about a theme and a product that is unique to the area people don’t travel that far these days you have to be able to deliver it in an innovative fashion and keep updating to keep people coming in the door.” Out of Business? How Fast? Do nine out of 10 restaurants fail in their first year, as commonly claimed? No. Survival analysis of 1.9 million longitudinal microdata for 81,000 full-service restaurants in a 20-year U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics non public census of business establishments in the western US shows that only 17% of independently owned full-service restaurant startups failed in their first year, compared with 19% for all other service-providing startups, according to ResearchGate. The median lifespan of restaurants is about 4.5 years, slightly longer than that of other service businesses (4.25 years). However, the median lifespan of a restaurant startup with 5 or fewer employees is 3.75 years, slightly shorter than that of other service businesses of the same startup size (4.0 years). What Makes a Restaurant Successful? Opening and maintaining a successful restaurant is not as easy as creating a great menu and serving excellent food. It takes more than that, according to local restaurant owners who have been in business for decades in the region. They all agree that there are some guidelines to running a successful restaurant. • Quality food: Successful restaurants know exactly what they serve and who they serve it to. Delivering the same great taste every single time builds loyal customers. • Smooth operations: Friendly greetings and attentive staff make guests feel welcome from the moment they walk in. Hiring staff for personality and training for skill ensures reliable, caring service. • Smart marketing: Exceptional food and experiences naturally get people talking and sharing online. Word of mouth can help entice customers. Consistent social media and targeted advertising brings in new and repeat guests also. The menu is what keeps patrons coming back to Mimi’s Diner in Fulton, located at 201 N. Second St. “We locally source our produce and our meats. Our chicken and biscuits is a popular, popular special,” said Richard Tagliareni, the third-generation owner and general manager. “It’s all homemade. We have consistently served quality food.” His grandfather started the business more than 55 years ago. Mimi’s is engrained in the community. They cater to the community and are very involved in everything from the schools to local events. The first Mimi’s Drive-In opened in Mexico. Then a second in Oswego and then Fulton. Fulton’s Mimi’s is the only one left. “The last couple of weeks have been kind of slower than normal. October is usually a busier month for us People will start coming back around again. Also, the price of gas is affecting some things,” Tagliareni added. “We try to keep our prices in line. You go out to eat, you’re going to spend about a hundred bucks or so for two people for dinner. You come here to Mimi’s you are probably for two people for dinner it’s between $50 and $60. We are trying to keep our prices in line. We did have to increase our prices a little bit but things are looking OK.” For the Press Box, 29 E. First St., Oswego, it’s also about great food and a family atmosphere. “Our sports bar and restaurant was established in 1984,” said Alison Canale Scanlon, manager. “I think putting the time into everything makes a big difference and treating people like family when they walk into your restaurant. That’s how we have always operated since 1984.” “It’s the family oriented aspect,” she added. “Consistency, quality and presentation of our food — that’s the secret to a successful restaurant. We try to be very consistent with it. We treat people like family when they come in; because we know how we want to be treated when we go to a restaurant. We treat people the same or better.”

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Oct 14 • 8:23 AM EDT • Business • oswegocountybusiness.com
Shane Gillis Drops F-Bomb During 'SNL' Sketch

The comedian later apologized for the moment.

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Oct 11 • 11:20 AM EDT • Entertainment • huffpost.com
Popular comedian set to host ‘Saturday Night Live’ for the 7th time

A popular comedian will join a small group of stars who have hosted 'SNL' seven or more times

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Oct 22 • 5:46 PM EDT • Entertainment • nj.com
Maine program offers help to those at risk of eviction

To qualify, households must be renters in Maine, be at risk of eviction, owe no more than $9,600 and have household income at or below 60% of area median income.

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Sep 21 • 9:39 AM EDT • Business • spectrumlocalnews.com
New York area comedian Paul Costabile to emcee San Gennaro stage, brings late night show to Little Italy

Comedian Paul Costabile is celebrating the Feast of San Gennaro with comedy all day long.

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Sep 22 • 9:30 AM EDT • Entertainment • amny.com
‘SNL’ Icon Reveals Trump Move Is Killing His Business

The actor and comedian blasted the president for hurting his side hustle.

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Sep 30 • 1:36 PM EDT • Business • thedailybeast.com
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Legendary comedian dies suddenly at 78

Ronnie Golden, the British entertainer known for “Spitting Image” and “The Young Ones,” died suddenly at his home at 78.

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Oct 12 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • cleveland.com
Nate Bargatze and 4 CEOs gave me the same career advice

At the Ford Accelerate conference, CEOs and one famous comedian spoke about how they built their high-octane careers.

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Oct 3 • 4:49 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
🙂 Positive (50%)
Comedian Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa is wondering what comes next

Vidura Bandara Rajapaksa turns his immigrant experience and anger into comedy. Now, with that pressure easing, he’s wondering what comes next.

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Oct 15 • 5:26 PM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Jay Leno to perform in Hershey in 2027

Comedian and former talk show host Jay Leno will perform in Hershey next spring.

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Oct 19 • 10:15 AM EDT • Entertainment • lancasteronline.com
Comedian Russell Brand anally raped me, woman tells UK trial

By Michael Holden LONDON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - British actor and comedian Russell Brand anally raped a woman who had willingly gone to his house for consensual sex, ignoring her

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Oct 20 • 10:42 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
Roseanne Barr calls Michael Fishman a ‘little f---ing worm’ for saying “Roseanne” revival was rightfully canceled

The comedian didn’t hold back when sharing her true feelings for Fishman, who played her TV son for 10 seasons.

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Sep 23 • 4:46 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Dan Levy slams Shane Gillis for controversial 'SNL' monologue

Dan Levy isn't amused by Shane Gillis' "SNL" monologue. The "Schitt's Creek" star, 43, took to Instagram on Oct. 11 to slam the comedian's controversial monologue on "Saturday Night Live."

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Oct 12 • 11:23 AM EDT • Entertainment • centraloregondaily.com
L.A.-raised comic Jack Assadourian Jr. turns his Mexican Armenian roots into fearless new comedy special

Comedian Jack Assadourian Jr. on exploring his Mexican and Armenian roots through humor, family and his journey to embracing his identity.

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Oct 1 • 6:00 AM EDT • Entertainment • latimes.com
Carrot Top hospitalized in Las Vegas after apparent suicide attempt

Carrot Top, the mop-topped prop comedian who has entertained audiences since the early 1990s, was taken to a Las Vegas hospital after an apparent suicide attempt, according to a report

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Sep 19 • 4:57 PM EDT • Entertainment • thederrick.com
Pete Davidson says the 25th anniversary of dad’s death on 9/11 is ‘extra tough’ and ‘extra beautiful’

The comedian also revealed how he and his daughter Scottie feel his late dad’s presence.

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Sep 11 • 1:39 PM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Lawyer quit to become a comedian, says it wasn't because of burn out

Paul Farahvar, a stand-up comedian based in Chicago, left his job as a trial lawyer to pursue comedy after making Bob Saget laugh.

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Sep 19 • 4:11 AM EDT • Business • businessinsider.com
Gutfeld Live brings political comedy to F&M Bank Arena in Clarksville

Fox News host, comedian and author Greg Gutfeld brought his Gutfeld Live tour to F&M Bank Arena in downtown Clarksville on Sunday.

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Sep 21 • 9:25 AM EDT • Politics • clarksvillenow.com
Jon Stewart will remain at ‘The Daily Show’ through 2028

LOS ANGELES — Jon Stewart has signed a new deal that will keep the comedian at his weekly perch on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” through 2028. Skydance Television, which

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Oct 19 • 3:19 PM EDT • Entertainment • recorderonline.com
How geopolitical rifts cut scientific collaboration

Researchers have measured how worsening geopolitical relations hobble scientific collaboration, at last quantifying the impact of rifts between governments on cooperation between labs. Over the last decade, a tenser world has thrown up new barriers to cross-border science. Collaboration between the US and China has dimmed as the two countries have sunk into an ever-deeper rivalry. Links between Russia and Europe have collapsed following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But while a concern, the magnitude of the damage is less than might be expected. For all the geopolitical turmoil of the last decade, international scientific collaborations are near a record high. “Some part of the story is positive,” said Shreyas Gadgin Matha, a social scientist at Harvard University and an author of the new study. “Research collaborations are largely resilient.” Matha and colleagues looked at data on cross-border research papers and patents in the period 2000-23, and analysed how they were impacted by countries’ political relations, as measured by how often states voted together in the United Nations. They found that when states drift apart at the UN by the median difference in votes between all countries, joint scientific papers decline by 3.1% over the next three-year period. To put that in context, over the last decade, the US and China have diverged by around a third of that difference in votes every three years. In other words, on average, it takes quite a significant diplomatic rift even to trigger a small single-digit percentage drop in joint papers. “In the short term, even something like a 3% reduction [in joint papers] is, in some ways, not that big of a number,” said Matha. Research remains more international than ever, according to an analysis extending to 2023 released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in 2025. We’re still living in an era of unprecedented scientific globalisation, the analysis says, with 27% of papers in OECD countries written across borders. In 1970, just 2% of articles had authors from different countries. Longer-term damage?However, this trend towards increasing international collaboration “has lost momentum and might be partly breaking down,” the OECD analysis says, largely due to a fall in the intensity of US-China joint papers since 2018. Matha and his colleagues stressed they are not complacent about the global science system. For now, “it's pretty resilient,” said co-author Muhammed Yildirim, director of academic research at Harvard’s Growth Lab. But if links are weakened, through the denial of study visas, for example, then this could have a much longer-term effect, cascading through generations of scientists, he added. Related articlesChina becomes Russia’s biggest collaborator after war decimates science ties with the west US scientists prefer German to Chinese collaborators, study finds Horizon Europe is now truly global. But what comes next? Another finding of the study, Burning bridges or bridging divides: Geopolitics and collaboration in research and innovation, is that trust appears easier to destroy than create.The hit to scientific collaboration when countries drift apart is around three times as big as the growth in joint papers when they move closer, the paper finds. “It's far easier to break these ties than to mend them, and that that also perhaps has some larger policy lesson,” said Matha.PatentsThe results around patents were less clear cut. Some methods of analysis found a statistically significant link between a diplomatic rift and a drop in co-patenting, but others did not. According to Yildirim, patents with cross-border inventors are often developed by multinational companies, which may have invested heavily in global R&D facilities, so are less likely to change how they operate simply due to a change in the geopolitical weather. “That's why we might not be seeing the effect immediately in technology,” he said.By contrast, researchers might be more sensitive to geopolitics, because visa policies can quickly affect who meets who at academic conferences, he went on. International collaboration on patents is much lower than for academic articles, the study shows. It peaked at around 10% in 2010, and has since fallen back to around 8%. This could be because China dramatically ramped up domestic patents in the 2010s, said Yildirim, squeezing the international share.

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Sep 10 • 8:00 AM EDT • Science • sciencebusiness.net
Why Chloe Troast was relieved to be fired from “SNL”

The comedian and actress said she was thankful for the support that she received from her fellow cast members and the show’s writers after being cut.

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Oct 23 • 10:42 AM EDT • Entertainment • yahoo.com
Comics accuse SiriusXM of booting middle-class comedians

The last time radio had this much effect on standup comedy, Johnny Carson was hosting late night.

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Oct 7 • 1:14 AM EDT • Entertainment • morningbrew.com